hollander



Jan. 5, 1932. J. A. HOLLANDER WEB TENSIONING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 19, 1928 Jan. 5, 1932.. J. A. HOLLANDER WEB TENSIONING DEVICE Filed March 19, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 'd, fzkvXQ 2 Patented 1 Jan. 5, 1932 UNITED. STATES moon A. HQLLANDEB, or ronnsr PARK,

manuracrunme COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLmoIs, A CORPORATION or ILLmoIs PATENT, OFFICE ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CLINE ELECTRIC WEB TENSIONING DEVICE Application filed March 19, 1928. Serial No. 262,857.

This invention relates to apparatus for supplying paper to printing presses or the like,

and has for its object the provisionof an improved web tensioning device,

' In apparatus of this character,the web is 7 ordinarily fed to the press from a roll rotatably mounted at a suitable location in the basement, the roll preferably being carried by a magazine reel, or roll stand, and the web, in its course to the press, being directed over suitable guide rollers and one or more tensioning rollers, whereby it is maintained in taut condition and the feeding thereof to the press facilitated.

In the usual form of tensionlng device emloyed in the past, the tensioning roller has een movably mounted in a fixed bracket, or

support, with springs, suitably located, to yieldingly project the roller and permit the same to be retracted against the tension of the spring under the action of the web passing over the roller. In such construction, the springs at one end engage a fixed part of the bracket or support and at the other end the bearings, or some other part whichis movable with the roller.

It has been found that, due to various 1 causes, such as uneven winding of the web roll, or unequal elasticity of different parts one end of the tensioning roller with respect to the other, moving it either forward or back to 'accomm odatethe particular condition encountered, and difficulty has been experienced in this regard with the-structure heretofore employed, byreason of the fact that adjustment of one end or the other of the roller J slack in the web.

A further object of my inventionis the prov slon, 1n a web, tensioning device, of

of the web, it is desirable at times to adjust means for checking the return movement of the roller under spring action after having been retracted by pressure exerted by the web, thereby preventing the breaking of the web in case slack occurs in the latter. Said means also serves to prevent too rapid oscillation of the roller, which might otherwise be caused by-changes in the tension of the web resulting from variations in the speed of the press, or to irregularities in the diameter of the paper roll.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent. as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereo Referring to the drawings,

Figure l a side elevation of the apparatus in which my invention is embodied, the rollstand and paper rolls and certain other parts being shown diagrammatically;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the bearing support and tensioning devices for the roller and of the bracket in which said support is adjustably mounted;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional and elevational taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

, Fig.4 is an elevational View of the air valve, viewed from the interior of the'cylinder of the dashpot;

Figs. 5 and 6 are horizontal and vertical sections, respectively, of the cylinder head, showing the inlet and outlet valves whereby theadmission and escape of airfrom the dashpot c'ylinderis controlled; and

Fig. 7 is a broken and diagrammatic rear elevational view of the tensioning roller and independent tensioning devices the opposite ends thereof.

Upon said drawings, illustrating the best provided at manner in which I have thus far contemplated applying the principles of my invention,

(not shown) each pair of which is equipped the reference character 21 indicates a rollwith means for supporting one of the large paper rolls 23 which are used to supply paper to a printing press, usually located on the floor above.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the roll 23, at the right of the figure, is in feeding position and the web 24 therefrom is directed over a guide roller 25, a tensioning roller 26, a guide roller 27, and thence upwardly to the press. Suitable tension may be maintained upon the right-hand roll 23 bymeans of a strap 28, the upper end of which is wound upon a drum 29 and the lower end of which is anchored by suitable means (not shown). The drum 29 is adapted to be rotated by means of a motor 31 adapted to drive a belt 32, which in turn drives a pulley 33 carried upon a drum shaft 34. This part of the apparatus forms no part of my invention and,

therefore, will not be described in further detail, it being understood that the motor 31 is, or may be, automatically controlled in such manner that the drum 29 is caused to rotate to tighten the straps 28, of which there may be any desired number, so as to maintain proper tension upon the roller as the latter decreases in diameter and to govern the speed of rotation of the latter, or to stop such rotation, as conditions may require.

The tensioning roller 26 as shown in Fig. 3 is reduced at its ends, as at 35, said reduced ends being mounted in universal roller bearings 36, provided in bearing blocks 37, slidably mounted in a guidew'ay 38 formed in a bearing support 39, which is adjustably mounted in a' bracket 41 depending from I- beams 42 carried at the top of a framework 43 and preferably arranged at or near the ceiling of the basement, or storage room, in which the rollstands are located.-

The web 24 leads forwardly from the guide roller 25, around the tensioning roller 26, and back to the guide roller 27 and onto the press, it being evident that the roller 26 will be retracted by the pressure of the web and will exert a tension thereon if the speed of rotation of the roll 23 and the speed of the press are so related that the web is drawn off the roll, the tractive force thereof providing a taut condition which may be regulated by the tension of said roller 26.

The bearing support 39 is slidably mounted in bearings 44 and 45 and in depending end parts 46 and 47 of the bracket 41, said bearing support having thereon a depending aperture lug 48, the aperture of which is threaded to receive the threaded end 51 of a rod 52 rotatably mounted in said end part 46 of the bracket 41, said rod being held against longltudinal movement by means of a collar 53 secured thereto and disposed on the inside of said bracket end part 46 and by the shoulderx54 of a yoke 55, which is pivotally connected at 56 with a horizontal rod 57, which is supported at its opposite end in a bearing member 58, depending from the frame I-beam 42, said rod 57 being connected at its outer end by means of a universal joint, shown at 59, with a rod 61 extending downwardly at an angle and supported in a bearing, or eyemember 62 secured to an angular framepart 63, the lower end of said rod 61 carrying a hand-wheel 64, whereby the same may be rotated to turn the rod 57 and screw rod 52, thereby adjusting the bearing support 39 longitudinally in the bracket 41. It will be noted that the hand-Wheel 64 is arranged near the rollstand and in accessible position to the operator, so that the bearing support 39 may be readily adjusted by the operator when conditions arise rendering it desirable to move the position of the tensioning roller, particularly by adjusting one end thereof with'respect to the other.

Referring now to Fig. 2, which shows, in section, the tensioning device illustrated diagrammatically at the left in Fig. 7, it will be observed that a spring 65 is carried in the bearing support 39, which is hollow, the forward end of said spring being centered upon a rearwardly,project-ing stud 66 on the bearing block and the rear end of said spring backing against a disk 67, slidably mounted within a cylindrical part 68 of said member 39. Said disk 67 is recessed on the rear side thereof, as indicated at 69, to receive a point of a screw 71 threaded into the rear end 72 of said cylindrical part 69 of the member 39, said screw having a head 73 in the outer end thereof, whereby the same may be turned by a wrench, though it will be evident that any other suitable means of adjustment might be employed. A look nut 74 is provided on said screw 71, exteriorly of the wall 72. It will be apparent that the tension on the spring 65 may be varied by means of the screw 71.

The forward side of the bearing block 37 is connected by means of a rod 75 with a piston 76, mounted in a forward cylindrical part 77 of the member 39, said rod 75 being connected to said bearing block by means of a pin 78 extending between spaced lugs 79 formed onthe forward side of said block, the forward end of the rod 75 being connected to the piston 76 by means of a pin 81 inserted in a bore 82 in opposed interior lugs 83 in said piston. The. forward end of the piston is provided with a cup washer 84, secured thereto by means of a screw 85 extending through a metal Washer 86 and through said leather washer into the body of the piston, as indicated at 87. The forward stroke of the piston is limited by means of studs 88, extending inwardly from a cylinder head 89, having exterior screw threads 91 and adapted to be screwed into the forward end of the cylinder 77, which is interiorly threaded and beveled, as indicated at 92.

Said head 89 has a central air passage 93' therein, which is adapted to beopened upon movement of the piston 76 to the right, viewing Fig. 2, and to be closed upon forward movement of said piston by means of an intake valve, comprising a leather pad 94 bolted to a thin metal strip 95, which is secured at its upper end to the interior 'of the cylinder head by means of a screw 96 and extends across the opening 93, the lower end of said strip being guided upon a pin 97 provided in the cylinder head, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The metal strip 95 is apertured near its upper end, as indicated at 98, to increase the flexibility thereof and is secured to the pad 94 by means of a bolt 99,'a washer 101 being inter-' posed between said strip and said pad. It

will be understood that when the tensioning roller is retracted, the bearingblock 37 moves toward the right, viewing Fig. 2, drawing with it. the piston 76, and the suction thus created will flex the metal strip 95, moving the leather pad 94away from the inner endo the opening 93 and permit air to be admitted to the cylinder chamber, between the cylinder head 89 and said piston 76. Upon reverse movement, however, the-air passage obviously will force the pad 94; agamst the interior of the cylinder head, preventing the escape of the air through said opening 93.

An escape valve is provided to control the escape of the air from the cylinder 77, in the well-known manner of theda'shpot, and comprises a screw 102, threaded into an opening 103 at one' side of the cylinder head 89, the latter having a transverse air passage 104 therein and a small opening 105, communieating with the cylinder chamber. The outer end of said screw 102 is enlarged, as indicated at 106, and may be turned by hand, or by means of a screwdriver. The screw is provided with a point 107, which enters the aperture 105 and restricts the air passage in accordance with the extent to which said point enters the opening 105, as in the man,- ner of a needle valve. The screw is prevented from turning by means of a ball 108 disposed in a recess 109 in the side of an outer,

' reduced part 111 of the cylinder head, and

projected into frictional engagement with the periphery of the screwhead 106 by means of a spring 112, positioned in said recess 109. The screwhead may be provided with a plurality of surface ridges, as shown, so that it mg, of the paper, and it also serves to prevent too rapid oscillation of said roller by changes in the tension of the sheet due to variations in the speed of the press, or irregularities in the diameter of the web roll.

f will also cause the condition mentioned.

This dashpot serves the important purpose of de-resonating as it were, the oscillating action of the tensioning roller. For instance, when a single inequality orbump' in the paper roll causes a periodic increase in the amplitude of the oscillations of the tensioning roller, theoscillation increases so rapidly that the tensioning roller backs away entirely from the web, creating an air sup) ported loop, as the press cannot take up the web rapidly enough to maintain the latter in a taut condition, whereupon the roller rebounds into this loop with/a force which may be suflicient to sever the web. The action just described is a serious fault in the usual design of tensioning roller. It therefore is the primary purpose of the dashpot to prevent a concerted rythmic action between the paper roll and the tensioning roller.

A paper roll that is out of balance, or a bad spot inthe core on which the paper is wounId, 11 short, any web condition that creates an alternate increase and decrease in tension that is in step with or near the natural or fundamental vibration period of the tensioning spring will first cause and then augment oscillation of the tensioning roller, with consequent dangerof severing the web.

It is thought that the invention and many I of its attendant advantages will be"understood from theforegoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim v 1. A web tensioning device comprising a roller adapted to engage a paper web as the latter passes from a source of supply to a v printing press, movable bearings for the opposite ends of said roller, a spring associated with each of said bearings and normally holding the same yieldingly in advanced position' engaging the-web, and a separateadjustable support for each of said bearings and associated springs, said supports being equipped with means whereby the relative position of the bearings may be quickly adjusted to accommodate inequalities in the taut-ness of the web without disturbing the spring tension on the roller.

2. A Web tensioning device comprising spaced brackets, a support movably mounted in each of said brackets, a tensioning roller carried by said supports, and a spring carried by each said support and adapted to urge the roller forwardly against the pressure of a web passing from a source of supply to a press, said supports being independently adjustable whereby the opposite ends of the roller'may be adjusted to accommodate inequalities in the tautness of the web without disturbing the spring 'tension on the roller.

3. A web tensioning device comprising spaced brackets, a movable support mounted in each thereof, a tensioning roller extending between said supports and supported thereby, a yieldable backing for said roller whereby the roller may be held yieldingly in en- I between said supports and supported thereby,-a yieldable backing for said roller where- .by the roller may be held yieldingly in engagement with a web passing from a source of supply to a printing press, means whereby said supports may be quickly adjusted in said brackets to accommodate inequalities in the tautness of the web, and means independent of said last-mentioned means for adjusting said yieldable backing. A

5. A web tensioning device comprising spaced brackets, a movable support mounted in each thereof, a tensioning roller extending between said supports andsupported thereby, a yieldable backing for said roller whereby the roller may be held yieldingly in engagement with a web passing from a source of supply to a printing press, means .whereby said supports may be quickly adjusted in said brackets to accommodate inequalities in the tautness of the web, and means independent of said support-adjusting means for adjusting the tension on said roller, said last-mentioned means comprising independent tensioning devices for the opposite ends of the roller.

6. A web tensioning device comprising a roller adapted to engage a paper web as the latter passes from a source of supply to a printing press, movable bearings for the 0pposite ends of said roller, a spring associated with each of said bearings and normally holding the same yieldingly in advanced position engaging the web, a dashpot connected with said bearing for controlling the forward movement of the same after retraction thereof by the web against the tension of said spring, and aseparate adjustable support for each said bearing and associated spring and dashpot wherebythe relative position of the bearings may be adjusted without disturbing the spring tension thereon.

7. A web tensioning device comprising a. roller adapted to engage a paper web as the latter passes from a source of supply to a printing press, movable bearings for the opposite ends of said roller, a spring associated with each of said bearings and normally holding the same yieldingly in advanced position engaging the web, a dashpot for controlling the forward movement of said bearing after retraction thereof by the web against the tension of said spring, and a separate adjustable support for each said bearing and associated spring and dashpot whereby the relative position of the bearings may be adjustedwithout disturbing the spring tension thereon, said dashpot comprising a cylinder, a piston mounted therein and conn cted with said bearing and means for controlling the admission and escape of air from the cylinder to thereby regulate the forward movement of the roller.

8. In paper supply apparatus, the combination of a web roll support and a tensioning device between said roll support and a printing press or the like to which the web is to be supplied, said tensioning device comprising a roller about which the web is adapted to pass, a support in which said roller is yieldingly mounted, a bracket in which said said roller is mounted, a bracket in wliich said support is movably carried, means whereby the position of said support in said bracket 1 may bequickly adjustedt-o accommodate inequalities in the tautness of the web, and means for adjusting the spring tension on said roller, said means being undisturbed by oper ation of said support adjusting means.

10. A web tensioning device comprising a spring-pressed roller mounted for engagement of the web between a source of supply and a machine to which the. web is to be supplied, means for independently adjusting the opposite ends of said roller without disturbing the spring tension thereon,and a dashpot connected with said roller and adapted to regulatethe movement thereof under spring tension.

11. A web tensioning device comprising a opposite ends of said roller Without disturbing the spring tension thereon, and a dashpot connected with said roller and adapted to regulate the movement thereof under spring tension, said dashpotcomprising a cylinder, a piston movablymounted thereon and connected with said roller, and an intake valve and an adjustable outlet valve in said cylinder.

12. A web tensioning device comprising spaced brackets, a support movably mounted in each of said brackets, a tensioning roller carried by said supports, and means associated with each said support for yieldingly urging the roller forwardly against the pressure of a web passing from a source of supply to a press, said supports being independ ently adjustable whereby the opposite ends of the roller may be adjusted to accommodate inequalities in the tautness of the Web without disturbing the tension on the roller.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

JACOB A. HOLLANDER. 

